For many volunteers, the greatest reward is simple: knowing that their time and effort have made a positive difference to the lives of others and helped strengthen the communities they call home.

Volunteers - the heart of services relied on daily

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to make a difference in your local community. Whether it's helping vulnerable residents, supporting local charities, protecting the environment or sharing professional skills with community groups, volunteers are at the heart of many services that people rely on every day.

Across the Horsham District, hundreds of organisations depend on volunteers to deliver everything from community transport and social support to sports clubs, heritage projects and environmental initiatives. The good news is that there are opportunities for people of all ages, interests and experience levels, with plenty of training and support available to help volunteers succeed.

Why volunteer?

People choose to volunteer for many different reasons. Some want to give something back to their community, while others are looking to learn new skills, meet people or gain experience for employment.

Volunteering can:

• Improve confidence and wellbeing
• Help develop new skills and experience
• Provide valuable work experience and strengthen a CV
• Create opportunities to meet new people and build friendships
• Offer a sense of purpose and achievement
• Enable people to make a real difference in causes they care about

Research consistently shows that volunteering benefits not only the organisations receiving support but also the volunteers themselves through improved social connections and personal satisfaction.

Where are opportunities available?

Volunteer roles can be found throughout the Horsham District, including in towns and villages such as Horsham, Pulborough, Henfield, Billingshurst, Southwater, Storrington and surrounding communities.

Opportunities exist in a wide range of sectors, including:

• Community support services
• Charity fundraising
• Environmental and conservation projects
• Sports and recreation
• Youth organisations
• Heritage and cultural groups
• Health and wellbeing services
• Faith and community organisations

Horsham District Council (HDC) encourages organisations to offer a variety of routes into volunteering, including one-off events, taster sessions, information sessions and longer-term volunteering roles to suit different lifestyles and availability.

How can residents get involved?

Getting started is often easier than people think. Many local charities and community groups regularly advertise volunteer vacancies and welcome enquiries from people who simply want to find out more.

Prospective volunteers should:

• Identify causes or activities that interest them.
• Explore local volunteer opportunities.
• Attend information sessions or volunteer fairs where available.
• Contact organisations directly to discuss suitable roles.
• Consider trying a short-term or taster opportunity before committing to a regular position.

Many organisations are keen to attract volunteers with a wide range of skills and experiences, whether they can offer several hours a week or just occasional support.

Training and support for volunteers

One concern sometimes raised by potential volunteers is whether they have the necessary skills or knowledge. Fortunately, extensive training and support are available across the district.

The HDC Voluntary Sector Support team regularly organises free or heavily subsidised training events for volunteers, trustees and community organisations. Current programmes include:

• Emergency First Aid training
• Trustee responsibilities and governance training
• Fundraising workshops
• Carbon Literacy accreditation
• Social media and communications training
• Networking opportunities for fundraisers and community organisations

Many of these courses are provided free of charge, with only a refundable booking deposit required to secure attendance.

For trustees and charity leaders, specialist training is available on governance, legal responsibilities, safeguarding, constitutions and recruitment. A forthcoming trustee training session will be held at Pulborough Village Hall, providing local access to expert advice and support.

Support for organisations and volunteers

The support available extends beyond training. HDC’s Voluntary Sector Support team works with local charities and community groups throughout the year, helping them recruit, retain and support volunteers. Funding has also been made available to help organisations improve volunteer experiences, provide training, cover volunteer expenses and remove barriers that may prevent people from getting involved.

Support can include:

• Volunteer recruitment assistance
• Training opportunities
• Volunteer management resources
• Funding for volunteer development
• Wellbeing initiatives
• Advice on attracting and retaining volunteers
• Networking with other voluntary organisations

A chance to make a difference

Whether you are retired, working, studying or simply looking to give some time back to your community, there has never been a better opportunity to explore volunteering.

With flexible roles available across the district, alongside free training, ongoing support and the chance to develop new skills, volunteering offers benefits not only to local organisations but also to the people who step forward to help.

Find out more

Residents can explore current training opportunities and volunteering support through Horsham District Council's Voluntary Sector Support programme at Events and Training – Horsham District Council.

Call 01403 215191 or email volunteering@horsham.gov.uk

In Pulborough, contact the Pulborough and District Community Care Association (PDCCA). Click here to read a recent Pulborough Post about their services to residents and find out how to get involved.

Read PDCCA volunteer Isla Moran’s interview with Pulborough Post here to find out why she volunteers and the difference it makes